Armor-plate.



No. 675,5". Patented lune 4, 190|. T. HABDIE.

ABMUR PLATE.

(Application led Oct. 2, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES THOMAS IIARDIE, OF PHILADELPHIA,

PATENT OEEICE.

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF TIVO- THIRDS TO ARCHIBALD J. ROBERTSON ANDALFRED C. REX, OF SAME PLAGE.

PLATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 675,511, dated June 4,1901.

Application filed October 2, 1900.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS HARDIE, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of the city and county of Philadelphia, in the State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inArmor-Plates,as fully set forth in the following speciiication.

My invention relates to armor-plates for defensive purposes which areused in the construction of war vessels, and has for its object tofurnish an armor-plate which is practically impregnable and one thatwill not crack or split by the impact of a regulation projectile. Up tothis time experience and practice demonstrate that many of the bestclass of steel plates are unable to resist the terrific impact of theprojectile. They split, crack, or are pierced, although the experts inthe art have used the best of material and ingenious means ofmanufacture, and I am convinced that they will continue to split orcrack and be pierced by the projectile if some means is not utilized forassisting the plate to resist the shock to the plate which isadministered by the projectile. In order to accomplish that purpose, Iuse a steel casting containing sufficient carbon to admit of properhardening in the process of casting. I supply the plate with a networkof steel tubing throughout nearly its entire area, thus binding ittogether with these tubes and furnishing a supplementary strength to theplate which could not be obtained in any other way.

Referringr to the drawings,Figure l is a surface View, partly insection,of an armor-plate, showing the steel tubing forming a networkand cast in the body of the plate and the ends protruding from the edgesof the plate. These Serial No. 31,777. (No model.)

open ends are necessary to allow the air and other matterto escape whencasting the plate. Fig. 2 represents the edge of an armor-plate, showingthe steel tubes in their respective po-v sitions on line 3 3, Fig. 1.This view also shows the steel tubes a greater distance from the face ofthe plate than to other side thereof. This network of steel tubes areseparated from each other, so as to have a solidity of metal separatingthem. It is obvious that the armor-plate is lighter in weight than asolid plate of the same dimensions would be,which is a noteworthyadvantage, and is at the same time much stronger to resist the impact ofa projectile. In fact, it will not split or crack, although it may bepossible to pierce it.

In the letters of reference, A is the plate proper. B is a steel tube,whichis invisibly inclosed in the plate proper in the process of castingsaid plate, and O 'is also a steel tube laid transversely, thus formingthe network, as stated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl. A steelarmor-plate for defensive purposes to be used in the construction of warvessels, said plate containing an invisible network of steel tubing,substantially as described.

2. In armor-plates the combination of a steel casting,having inclosed inthe body thereof a series of transverselyarranged steel tubes forming anetwork of said tubes in said plate, substantially as described.

THOMAS HARDIE.

Witnesses:

ALLAN J. OAssIDY, FRED. W. OAssrDY.

